START OF A NEW ERA AS THE TOWN’S GATE CLOSES TO TRAFFIC
THERE were no marching bands, TV cameras, flashing lights or big speeches for the final chapter in the campaign to close St Laurence’s Gate.
Last Thursday evening, as cars continued to flow under the gate, all around it things were changing.
Council workers were out in numbers, burning away white lines and adding new ones.
Signs were being covered and new ones erected. A big change was on the way.
At 10.30pm, new directional arrows were laid at the top of Francis Street and on Jim Garry Way.
Then came the early morning. Again the council workers were out from 5am getting everything in place.
At 6am, two men stepped forward and placed barriers across the Gate. No ceremony, no official ‘ribbon cutting’ for this one. It was a case of job done.
One could sense the significance of the occasion. After all, this gate has stood majestically on this spot for many centuries, silent and royal, it was just another day for many, but for the gate perhaps the start of a new understanding of its heritage and importance to the town.
There were ‘ teething issues’ with the new set up, cars still driving down Francis Street, still going the wrong way across Jim Garry Way, but like everything, the days pass and the realisation sinks in.
The return to school will see pressure points with traffic in this area, there’s no doubt about that, but already locals have come up with suggestions.
One of the most important is adding a yellow box at the exit of Francis Street onto Scarlet Street.
At key times, this can be a bottleneck and having some kind of box will help the flow.
Now that the Gate is closed, it’s time to get it opened to the public.